Diving-chamber for submarine operations.



G. PETIT.

BIVNG CHAMBER FOB. SUBMARINE OPERATIONS.

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CH-PETIT. .DIVING'GHAMBER POR SUBMARINE OPERATIONS. APPLIUATIONVFILEDMAR. 12, 1913.

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4 SHEBTS-SHEBT 3 G. PETIT. l. DIY/:ING CHAMBER FOR SUBMARINEOPERATIONS.l

, APPLICATION FILED MAB. 12 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, T1914.

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CHARLES PETIT, 0F PARIS, FRANCE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ea sept. i, 1,914.

Application filed March 12, 1913. Serial No. 753,675.

T0 ZZ 107mm. it may concern i Be it known that I, CHARLES PETIT, acitizen of the Republic of France, residing at 9 AMenue Parmentier,Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements inDiving-Chambers for Submarine Operations, of which the following -is aspecification.

This invention ielates to a diving chamber or apparatus for submarineexploration and operations at great depths which is adapted to recei. eone inan or more and is provided with a mechanism actuated by means ofpedals and driving either a screw propeller ter the purpose of movingthe apparatus in a horizontal plane or a weight carrying winch for thepurpose of displacing the ap} aratus vertically, the apparatus beingalso provided with one or more working arms which can be steered andoperated in all directions from the interior of the chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, a divingchamber constructed in accordance with the inven tion: Figure 1 is avertical section of the saine taken 'approximately along the line A A,Fig. 2, the working arms being omitted. Fig-2 is a horizontal. sectiontaken approximately along the line B-B, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection of a working arm, Fig. -i is a vertical sectional view, 'takenapproximately along the line C-U, Fig. 3, oi? the actuating mechanismfor a working arm; Figs, 5 and (i are details ot" the operatingmechanism oi" a working arm, YFig. is a vertical part section takenapproximately along the line D-D, in `Fig. 2, showing theactuatingmechanism tor the weight carrying drinn.

The a'ppiratus shown in' the drawings comprises a tight hull or casingmade of a Ii'nctal sull'iciently strong and' resilient for supporting aheavy outer pressure Without hainiul or dangerous distortion. The hullor casing is formed oi an upper cup 1, a cylindrical body 3 and a lowercup 2; The upper cup-1 is provided at its top with a man hole givingaccess to thc interior ot the apparatus.

lapin lid flwhieh is held in position by a yoke 80' and may be openedeither trom the inside or t-he outside ot' the hull by means oi" handwheels Si, rlfhree pivoting hooks 7l are provided on the upper cup forattaching the apparatus to chains 7() by- This man hole is closedby awhich the apparatus :is suspended to a cable attached to a.' boat. Byrotating the hooks* 7l on 1800, by means ot the handle 83 thereof, theapparatus may be disengaged by.

a man therein from its supportingehains. Windows 5 ot' very thick glassare provided iii the cylindrical body 3 of the casing.

At thecenter of the lower cup 2, there is a support 84 for a tubularframe 6 carrying at the top a saddle 7 which can rotate about a verticalaxis so as to allow the man to turn easily. In the frame 6, is mounted across shaft 8 upon which the cranks carrying the pedals 9 are keyed. Theshaft 8 has a bevel gear 85 fixed thereon, which actuates through asimilar gear S6 a horizontal operating shaft 8'?. On said shaft ST areloosely mounted two chain wheels 88, 89, which are each provided withclutch teeth on their adjacent sides. An oscillating arm 90 providedwith a locking rod 91 cooperating with a notched segment 92 per-l mitsof displacing on the shaft 87 a sleeve 93 'feathered on the same, so asto operate either the wheelv 88 or the wheel 89. The chain wheel 88operates through a driving chain 9i a sprocket pinion 16, shaft 95,

bevel gears 17, 18, shaft 97 and bevel gearsA 19, 20, and the shaft 22of a screw propeller 2l.

T he propeller 2l is mounted so that it can not only turn aboutA itsaxis but can also be deflected about a vertical axis. To this end, thepropeller shaft 9,2 is mounted in a box 253 provided with a verticalsleeve Q4; which is rotatable in a bracket fixed to the hull of theapparatus.' rThis sleeve 2dearries at its upper end a'pinion 2G mesh-ying with another pinion 27, the shaft ot' which rotates in' the bracket25 and carries, inside the diving chamber, a hand wheel 96. Both shafts28 and 95 are provided with stuffing boxes and ball bearings. The shaft97 and sleeve 2i are also mounted on'ball bearings.

X'Vhen the sprocket wheel 88 is coupled with the shaft S7 and theoperator in the' diving chamber works the pedals, the pi'opeller 2l isrotated at a speed proportionate to that at which the pedals rotate. lVhen heA desires to alter the position ot the propeller about itsvertical axis, he only requires to turn the hand wheel 96; imparted tothe propeller by the pedals 9 and the hand wheel 9G being independent ofeach other, the angular adjustment and The movements iio drive of thepropeller may be 'effected simultaneously or separately.

. The diving apparatus shown in the draw-` ing is provided with twoworking arms operated separately from the interior of theapparatus andprovided at their outer ends with grippers which can be brought to anypoint of a substantially hemispherical sur face outside the divingchamber, and take ,hold of an object at this point. For each ofl saidarms, is secured by a tight -joint on the wall of the :cylindrical body3 a support 100 having a generally cylindrical outline, the

fixation being'efected for instance by means" of a cylindrical socket101 (Fig. 2). In the support, is rotatably mounted a hollow shaft 102provided near the middle of its length with a collar 103 on both sidesofwhich is a thrust ball bearing 104. Said bearings 104 are held by meansof threaded sleeves 105 screwed into the support 100. The shaft 102 iscarried at its ends in ball bearings mounted in stuffing boxes 107. Theouter end of the shaft 102 which extends in the water in operation haskeyed thereon a head 108 in which is cut a worm gearing 109 by means ofwhich the shaft 102 can rotate un? `same action 'as those of the shaft102. lThe` shaft 116 carries at its inner end a drivingl pinion 113.

stub shaft 117 at right angles to the direction of the shaft 102. On theshaft 117 is:

keyed a member 118. rl`he member 118 is rotated with the shaft 117 bymeans of the following arrangement. Through the hcllow outer shaft 102,extends another hollow intermediary shaft 119 which is rotated from theinterior of the apparatus by means of a toothed gear 120 secured on saidshaft.'

On the outer end of said shaft which eX- tends through a,stuiiing box121, is secured 'a toothed gear 122 driving a gear 123 (Fig.

5) keyed on a horizontal countershaft 124.`

Said countershaft carries a worm 125 which drives a worm wheel 126integral with the` arm carrier 118. rlwo thrust ball bearings'lv areprovided for softening the rotation of' the same. By means of themechanism described, which forms a Cardan joint, the arm carrier 1,18may be moved in all directions.

The working arm proper 48 which may be of tubular shape, is secured tothe arm carrier 118, by means of bolts 129 havingI such a dimension andmade ofsuch a metal that they break if the weight suspended to the freeend of the working arm is above a certain limit. By this means theapparatus may be disengaged in all cases, even if the working armv wereentangled and could not be withdrawn The whole arm 48 and the load,carried thereby can be partially balanced or lightened by means of acork lining 130 arranged around the arm and having suitable thickness.

The free end of the arm 48 carries, in the example shown, two jaws 131,132, forming a. gripper. The .arm is provided for this purpose with twopairs of bosses 133 receiving the stub shafts 134 upon which the jawsare pivoted. The opening and closing movements of the grip er aretransmitted to the latter by means of a rack 135 meshing with toothedsegments formed on the jaws 131, 132. The rack 135 which is prevented.from turning is internally threaded and screwed on the threaded end ofa.shaft 137 which extends through the arm 48 and arm carrier 118 and isrotated 'by a Cardan joint 138-from a central shaft 139. Said shaft 139extends throu h the hollow intermediary shaft 1.19 l.anl carries at itsend inside the apparatus, the gear 140. Astuiii'ng boxl 141 isalsoprovided around said shaft 139. 1t will thus be seen that the gear 113when engaged by the wheel 142 as hereinafter described rotates theworking arm .48 aboutl the aXisM N, the gear 120 rotates said arm aboutthe axis O P andthe gear 140 has. for its effeet to open or close theripper of the arm.l Alll these movements being effected through themedium of a ,suitable worm or l screw areirreversible. Thethree gears113, p The' head 108 which rotates with the shaft: 102 has the shape fof a yoke and carries a 120 and' 140 ma be Vdriven separately by a gear142 (Fig, which is splined on a horizontal shaft 143 so that it may be'brought into en agement` with any one of the three of apivoting lever145 and a fork 146 of g any usualtypey A spring` pressed rod 147 carriedby the levervf145 can engageholes in a fixed segment 148 so that thelever and consequently the movable gear 142 are locked in any one roftheir positions? On the shaft 143 is keyed a sprocket wheelv 149.connected by a chain 150 toas rocketv wheel 151 integral with a handweel 1 52'carried on a bracket153 and within reach of the operator Theshape of the grippers` or pincers may 'in the apparatus. By means of thearrangemeeste obviously be varied and the arm described may be replacedby any other suitable device according to the nature of the work to' beperformed, such as shears, at pliers, bucket, basket, etc.

The shaft 87 operated from the pedals Q may be coupled, as above statedWith the drives through the medium of a shaft 159' and universal jointsa shaft 160 which extends through a support 161 secured in the Wall ofthe diving chamber and carries on its outer end a sprocket Wheel 162.The shaft 160 is journaled by means of a ball bearing in a stuling box.The sprocket wheel 162 is connected by a chain 163 to a similar sprocket.Wheel 16a keyed on a. horizontal shaft 165 which is journaled in tivobrackets 166 secured under the. cup 2. On the shaft 166 is secured aWinch drinn (Si, on which is Wound a metal cable or chain 168 supportinga heavy weight 65. By reason -of the non-revcrsibility of the ivorln.157,

the Winch drum is prevented from rotating under the influence of theweight 65. When the sprocket Wheel S9 is coupled with the shaft 87, theoperator by actuating the pedals 9 can rotate the drinn 6e in one or theother direction to raise or lower the Weight 65. rfhis arrangementenables the operator, if the weight rests on firm ground and theapparatus is free to move, to make the apparatus rise or descend byoperating 'the pedals so as to place, it at any level to be' explored.

Having now described my invention, what l claim as newv and desire tovsecure by lietters Patent is: I

1. In a diving apparatiisfor submarine operations, in combination: atightly closed casing, an aperture giving access into said. casing,means for closing said aperture, working arms mounted on the casing' soas to have an universal movement thereon, nieans for actuating said armsfrom the intcrior of the casing, screw propeller shaft supported fromthe casing, at the, outside of the same, a screw propeller on saidshaft, a `frame supported in the casing, a saddle on said frame, anactuating` shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, crank arms on saidshaft, pedals on said crank arms and means operatively connecting theactuatingshaft to the screw propeller shaft', substantially as describedand for the purpose set *foi-th.

2. ln a. diving;f apparatus for sulnnarine oiairations, in combination:a tightly closed casing, an aperture giving access casing, means forclosing' said aperture, working arms mounted on the casing so as to havean universal movement thereon,

into said' means for actuating said arms from the interior of thecasing, a sei ew propeller shaft supported from the casing, at theoutside of the same, a screw propeller on said shaft a frainesupportedin the casing', a saddle on said frame, an actuating shaft rotatablymounted in the frame, crank arms ori-said shaft, pedals on said crankarms, means operatively connecting` the actuating'shaft to the screwpropeller shaft, a boe: carrying the propeller shaft, a vertical sleeveon said box, a bracket secured to the casing and carrying said verticalsleeve, and means for rotating said sleevi about its longitudinal axis,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. ln a divingi apparatus for submarine operations, in combination: atightly closed casing. an aperture givingl access into said casing,means for closing' said aperture, Working' arms mounted on the casing soas to have an universal infnfement thereon, `means for actuatii'ig saidarms from the interior of the casing, a screw propeller shaft supportedfrom the casing, at the outside of the saine, screiv propeller` on saidshaft, 'a freine. supported in the easing, a saddle on said frame, anactuating' shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, crank arms on saidshaft, pedals on said crank arms, a winch carried by the casing', acable wound on said Winch, a Weight attached to said cable and means forcouplingl the actuating shaft to either the screw propeller shaft or theWinch substantially as described and for the purpose sct forth. A

el. ln a diving apparatus for submarine operations, in combination: atightly closed casing, an aperture into said casina", means for closing;said aperture, a support in the casing vfalc, an outer shaft rotatablymounted in said support, ineans includinga worin forl ctuating saidsha-ft, a stub shaft mounted in the outer end of the shatt, at rightangles to the axis of the latter, a working ai'in pifotcd on said stubshaft, an intermediary shaft, extending through the outer shaft. anddriving the working arm. means includirgl a. Worin for actuating saidintermediary shaft, tools `mounted on the working arm, ay nonrotatingyinternally threaded inenibu' actuating 'the tools, a threaded shaftscrewed in said member, a central shaft extending; through theintermediary shaft. means for actuating' said central shaft and anuniversal joint connecting theI threaded shaft to the central shaft,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

ln a diving,y apparatus for submarine operations, in colnbinatipn: a`tightly closed casing, an aperture giving in 'eess into said. casing.means for closingr said aperture. a support in the casing `wall. :inouter shalt rotatably mounted in said support, means E. on

llt?

including a Worm fdr'actuating said shaft, a stub shaft mounted in theouter end of the shaft, at right angles to the axis of the latter, aWorking arm pivoted on said stub shaft, an intermediary shaft, extendingthrough the outer shaft and driving the working arm, means including aWorm for actuating said intermediary shaft, tools mounted on the Workingarm7 a nonrotating internally threaded member actuating the tools, athreaded shaft screwed in said member,. a central shaft extendingthrough the intermediary shaft, means for actuating said .centralshafhan universal joint con necting the threaded shaft to the central shaft,a hand wheel, a pinion movable axially, means for' rotating said pinionfrom the hand Wheel and means for vdisplacing said pinion axially so asto engage the means for actuating the outer shaft, the in termediaryshaft or the central shaft, respectively, substantially as described andfor the purpose set forth.

6. In a diving apparatus for submarine ideales operations, incombination: a tightly closed casing, a rotating shaft having one end extending outside the casing, a stuiiing boX in the casing Wall, and aball bearing in said stung box, for supporting the shaft, substantiallyas described and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a diving apparatus for submarine operations, in combination: atightly closed casing, an aperture giving access into said casing, meansfor closing said aperture, working arms mounted on the casing so as tohave an universal movement thereon, mea for actuating said arms from theinterior of the casing and buoyant means on said arms E to lighten thesame substantially as described andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this'specification in thepresence'l of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES PETIT. Titnesses z LOUIS Mosns,

LUoniN MEMMENGER.

